What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientPolysilicone-11
Isododecane
EmollientAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Lysate Extract
HumectantSalvia Sclarea Extract
AntiseborrhoeicLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningMandelic Acid
AntimicrobialPolyglyceryl-3 Disiloxane Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPolyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientSalicylic Acid
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSoy Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingTin Oxide
AbrasivePolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingLaureth-12
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBHT
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Polysilicone-11, Isododecane, Acetyl Glucosamine, Yeast Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Salvia Sclarea Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Caffeine, Mandelic Acid, Polyglyceryl-3 Disiloxane Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Isohexadecane, Salicylic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Soy Amino Acids, Phosphatidylcholine, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Tin Oxide, Polysorbate 20, Laureth-12, Polysorbate 80, Stearic Acid, Sorbitan Oleate, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, CI 77891, Mica
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantLactic Acid
BufferingOctyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPPG-24-Glycereth-24
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingGlycereth-26
HumectantPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientSodium Polyaspartate
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin ConditioningSucrose
HumectantLaureth-7
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Polyacrylamide
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantBHT
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Butylene Glycol, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Dimethicone, PPG-24-Glycereth-24, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glycereth-26, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Sodium Polyaspartate, Trehalose, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Sucrose, Laureth-7, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Polyacrylamide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Mica, CI 77891, CI 77491
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaffeine is a naturally occurring plant compound found in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa pods, and guarana.
As an antioxidant, caffeine protects your skin from free radical damage caused by UV exposure and envionrmnetal stressors.
Early research also shows that caffeine can help calm redness, soothe irritated skin, and support hair growth by stimulating microcirculation in the scalp.
You might have seen eye creams marketing caffeine as a depuffing ingredient. This is because it is a vasoconstrictor meaning it can temporarily constrict blood vessels, though clinical evidence for this specific use is still limited.
Most skincare products contain this ingredient at concentrations between 1-6%. It is able to penetrate skin easily regardless of skin type or thickness.
Just so you know, a very small number of case reports describe caffeine-induced allergy. This ingredient is generally well-tolerated, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing for the majority of people.
Learn more about CaffeineCi 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinMica is a naturally occurring mineral used to add shimmer and color in cosmetics. It can also help improve the texture of a product or give it an opaque, white/silver color.
Serecite is the name for very fine but ragged grains of mica.
This ingredient is often coated with metal oxides like titanium dioxide. Trace amounts of heavy metals may be found in mica, but these metals are not harmful in our personal products.
Mica has been used since prehistoric times throughout the world. Ancient Egyptian, Indian, Greek, Roman, Aztec, and Chinese civilizations have used mica.
Learn more about MicaPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Polysorbate 80 is a surfactant and emulsifier. It is used to keep ingredients together, and prevent oils and waters from separating.
It is made from polyethoxylated sorbitan and oleic acid. This ingredient can be found in cosmetics, foods, and medicine. It is water-soluble.
Polysorbate 80 may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 80Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water